Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-10
NORWAY BRIDES.
The Methods of Matrimony In the Ia
Northland,

NOrtnlanus
On the day in which my visit to Odde
came to an end had a glimpse, if not of a
wedding itself, at least of the arrival of
the bridal party. Along the ford came a
large boat pulled by six stout oarsmen, and
making its way through the water in a
very different style from the crawling pace
customary to Norwegian boats on ordinary
occasions. AS it drew nearer we could see
that, besides the plainly-clad men and
the uninterrupted women, there were two
brides on board. The whole village, need
less to say, turned out to see the sight. and
pretty scene was formed by the groups of
women and girls, their white caps and
scarlet bodlces shining in the sun. As |
stood among the crowd and noticed the
details of their dress, | was struck with the
neatness and finish of it all, and the care
which is evidently bestowed on small de-
tails. One old dame wore the usual dark
gown, but the sleeves were relieved with
the neatest pea-green cuffs, sewn to
the dress with indescribable care and
finish. The close black cap she wore
was edged with a piping of yellow,
and beneath was a shrewd, kindly face.
The green dye which reappears on various
articles of clothing, but which, also, is
said to be going out of fashion, is made
from a kind of " stags-horn" moss, which
grows freely on the hillsides.
The two brides and their friends are
handed out by the boatmen, and then with
some show Of fuss and Importance, there are
lifted out of the boat sundry odd-looking
boxes, whose purpose and contents | was
at a loss to divine. Then the whole party
stands still solemnly, each bridegroom hay
ing his bride ON his arm, and the fiddler
faces them and strikes up tune He
beats his foot on the ground and scrapes
away at his curious instrument, a kind
known as the "Hardanger VIOLIN" and
reels out lively Norwegian tunes They
were strange airs to me, but | imagine
they were "halings," or perhaps, marches.
do not know why this pause was made;
perhaps to give time to the clergyman, who
was expected every moment by the steamer,
the steamer which unfortunately was to
carry me and my friend away. However,
the pause gave me an opportunity of no.
ticing the brides and their dresses.
They both wore the huge, ungalnly
crown, which is to the Norwegian bride
what the wreath of orange blossoms is to
her American sister. The dark blue skirt
was for this occasion replaced by one of
bright scarlet, embroidered with bold
pattern in wool near the hem. The full
white shirt remained as usual, but the bod
ice was a mass of beadwork, while the belt
was made of massive links of silver.
Large silver ornaments dangled from the
side of the crown, but whether affixed to
the crown or to the ears | could not tell :;
large silver brooch was worn at the
throat, and each bride had fine muslin
apron with a pretty piece of needlework
let in, after the Norwegian fashion, near
the hem. The patterns of this work, which
is generally crochet, are remarkably good,
and the crochet washes admirably. The
brides wore their hair hanging down their
backs, and one oficious bridesmaid / no.
ticed taking great pains to prevent the
brides locks from being blown about by
the wind. | locked at their faces, but in
this instance there was little to admire.
One was young, but the other was fairly
advanced in life, and neither could be
called pretty. | imagine that marriages
in Norway have often to be postponed for
long time, until vacant farm or home
stead falls to the turn of the young people.
Of the bridegrooms there is little to be
said. They were plain, honest-looking
fellows, dressed almost exactly like our
sailors, except for broad, soft wide-awake
hat. The kneebreeches fastened with sill
yer buttons, formerly worn in the country,
are fast disappearing from the peasants
costumes, and plain blue coat, jacket and
trousers are now generally worn. The
men look exactly like Englishmen of the
northern counties, with their fair hair,
and, as we should say, Saxon cast of fea-
lures. But now the procession begins to
move. The fiddler leads the way, still
playing, and the bridal party sets out on its
way to the church. And at the same time
the whistle OF the steamer is heard, and the
vessel steams up to the short quay, which
is all that is needed on the steep shores of
the ford. The clergyman, a tall, fine
looking man, steps off the boat, and we
must perforce step on, and so we see no
more of the wedding ceremony. They
will dance the ''haling' merrily tonight,
we are told. Formerly they kept the
reyels up for three nights, but now these
festivities are cut short, and one night is
considered enough.-THe Domestic MonthIy.